Evaluation of Suitability of New Bedding Material Obtained after Straw Biogasification for Dairy Cows

Simple Summary Various materials are used for bedding in dairy cow cubicle barns, including straw, sawdust, peat, sand, mats, separated manure, and others. The use of each of these materials requires different financial and labor inputs. Straw is the most commonly used material, characterized by high content of dry matter and the ability to absorb water and gases. A satisfactory bedding material should exhibit a strong physical structure and water absorption capacity to ensure optimal hygienic conditions. The quality of a bedding material deteriorates in direct proportion to the increase in moisture caused by the accumulation of urine and the simultaneous decrease in dry matter. An increase in bedding moisture, temperature, and C/N ratio can promote the growth of bacterial colonies. A sufficient drying capacity and an appropriate pH, which can help to effectively inhibit bacteria, viruses, and fungi, should be ensured when searching for the ideal bedding material. Straw obtained after biogas production can offer an alternative solution for farmers struggling with a shortage of bedding materials. This study aimed to compare the biomass obtained via the biogasification of straw with the classic bedding material, wheat straw. It was divided into two stages. In the first stage, a laboratory evaluation of the bedding materials was carried out, taking into account dry matter, pH, and water absorption. In the laboratory tests, the bedding obtained after the biogasification of straw (Verbio) showed better sorptive properties, with a value of 439.86% (wheat straw's value was 294.10%), and its pH value was higher than that of wheat straw. In the second stage of the experiment, field tests were carried out on a production farm, wherein the bedding was evaluated for bedding hygiene, animal hygiene, insulation properties, animal productivity, and microbiological properties. A microbiological assessment was also performed. Regarding cleanliness and production parameters and thermographic insulation properties, the two types of bedding did not show statistically significant differences. In terms of microbiological parameters, a higher number of all examined types of bacteria and fungi was observed in the Verbio bedding compared with straw, but these differences were not statistically significant, except in the case of total coliform. The results indicate that straw obtained after gasification is a suitable bedding material, with parameters similar to those of wheat straw.